Asians and trans* people. I know it's stupid to pick a point in the movie and say "This! This is offensive!" It's Hangover. Two.

But...the lady boys subplot wasn't remotely funny for me.

I'd almost forgotten about that, ita. I'd like to make a movie where we get revenge for Hangover II. I don't enjoy everything, but it's been a long time since I felt actively used and insulted by an evening's entertainment.

Nora Ephron is gravely ill, not expected to make it through the night.

Oh, that's sad.

Agh, Wikipedia is saying she passed just a few minutes ago.

I think I'm going to go dig up my copy of Scribble Scribble and bury myself in it for a bit.

There is a laundry list of reasons people stay in "sub-optimal" communities.

::raises hand:: Hell, I moved *to* one.

New Orleans has issues, but it also has a lot going for it. I've never seen any evidence that Gotham has a renowned...anything. Even things like the Symphony are constantly getting shot up by mob bosses and super villains.

I'm sure we don't see all that Gotham has to offer, but I'd like to see some evidence that Bruce loves the place for a reason beyond fond memories of his father. Or anything happy (not to be confused with noble)

I've never seen any evidence that Gotham has a renowned...anything

In the movies, you mean? I need to rewatch before this one starts, but there was the "people mover" that seemed like it was an attempt to improve things and it was coming from a pretty sincere place of urban restoration.

The comic has told me explicitly that it's a city in decay after a generation of plenty--I don't know if I took that to the movies with me, or I also saw it there. But it is the lens with which I always watch it.

Bruce doesn't just remember it because of his parents, but more because of what his parents were trying to make it.

I'll get back to you after a rewatch.

The comic has told me explicitly that it's a city in decay after a generation of plenty

Isn't Crime Alley supposed to be on a formerly posh part of town? Not unlike what happened in the Bronx.

In the movies, I think Batman cares about Gotham because it is presented as uniquely corrupt, which means the people are suffering in a very particular way that can't be changed from within the system. He is explicit about wanting to inspire people.* I don't think it's "fond memories of his father" that motivate him so much as "Nobody else should have to endure what I did. [beat] Oh holy shit, lots of people are suffering even more. Well, that's got to be fixed."

*Longwinded aside: That's a big part of what I like Dark Knight so much. It's not about preventing a specific crime. The Joker's goal is to disillusion the population, and convince them that everyone can be corrupted and civic society is, well, a joke. Batman's goal is to make himself unnecessary -- he wants the people to have faith in their institutions, and he wants that faith to be justified.

And all of the above is why Moscow came to mind. There were opinion polls in the 90s where the Russian population as a whole viewed cops as being worse than drug dealers. (I'm not sure if they've changed much since but I keep forgetting to look for data while I'm at work.) Gotham isn't just suffering economically; the civic institutions have no credibility. There's Falone's speech to Bruce in BB about how he could shoot him in front of a judge and some cops and nobody would say a word. There's Gordon saying that there's no point in ratting out his partner for taking mob money; nobody would care. And all of that is why Harvey Dent is a big deal in TDK.

And apparently I had a lot of thoughts! And/or I'm so tired and rambling.